The new one from Emma Tricca exists outside obvious labels. It's psychedelic in spots, sure, but it's such a unique confection that to saddle it with that term is to ignore so much of the charm of the release. The wonderfully-titled Aspirin Sun is out on Bella Union on Friday and it's the musician's first on that esteemed label.
This record is all mood, even as Emma Tricca's astonishing voice serves as the center-piece of the compositions. There are elements of American rock forms and English psychedelia, with Emma drawing upon each to whip up her own unique brand of indie. A listen to the slinky "Christodora House", an early highlight on Aspirin Sun, might lead a listener to recall that fine solo record from Kendra Smith of The Dream Syndicate. There's another Dream Syndicate connection here as Jason Victor, from the current line-up of the band (and Skull Practitioners), is all over Aspirin Sun. The guitar-lines here don't overshadow Tricca's trills and coos, while instrumentation from Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth) creates undulating layers behind Emma's lead vocals. The conventional blues-based flashes of "King Blixa" captivate in an obvious way, while the epic "Autumn's Fiery Tongue" works itself up from a seductive slouch to a swaying ramble. The long "Rubens' House" swirls and churns, while the closer, "Space and Time" conjures a simple mood by stripping back everything.
Emma Tricca is both a leader of musicians and a singer. And while her voice is stellar and emphatic, Aspirin Sun impresses most where it shows what she can lead players to do. Steve Shelley, Jason Victor, and bassist Pete Galub follow Tricca forward into the sun, with the arrangements here favoring a hypnotic stew of sounds. Aspirin Sun is a record to get lost in, a storm of melodies with Emma Tricca's voice guiding us to the shore, or maybe to crash on the rocks. That I'm not quite sure which is a testament to the pleasures of this record.
Aspirin Sun by Emma Tricca is out on Friday via Bella Union.
[Photo: Camilla Aisa]